Great Lives is a podcast from BBC Radio 4.

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He might have become an African-Nationalist Prime Minister

of Apartheid South Africa, but instead he became its most prominent white opponent.

A formidable advocate. He led the defense of Nelson Mandela in the Rovonia trial,

and it's no exaggeration to say, Bram Fisher saved Mandela's life.

Lord, your Lordship will have realized from the cross-examination of the state witnesses

that there are certain important parts of the state evidence which will be

admitted by some of the accused. It said that Mandela would have made him

vice president if he'd lived to see Mandela's release.

Your Lordship will also have realized from the cross-examination that there are certain equally

important parts of that evidence which will be denied and which we shall

maintain are false.

Two years later he was himself arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment for his political activities.

He is this week's great life and has been nominated by former English High Court Judge Sir Nick

Stadlin.

Nick, when did you first come across? High Court Judge Sir Nick Stadlin.

Nick, when did you first come across Bram Fisher?

Only very recently, to my shame I'd never heard of Bromfisher,

until I happened to be in South Africa when Nelson Mandela died and I met Dennis Goldberg one of the three surviving

Rivonia defendants who spoke in terms of such admiration and affection that I became intrigued.

Like you, I was rather surprised not to know more about him once I started finding out about

...